The Parish of St. Alphonsus, Davenport has serve the spiritual needs of the people of the West End for over a hundred years. From simple beginnings in a rented home, the parish has grown into a strong community of faith. The parish has embraced the needs of service to the poor, education of the young, spiritual growth of the faithful and fellowship for all. I pray that God will bless all who worship here and consider St. Alphonsus their spiritual home. May our service, prayers, and support be a blessing to all! ~Fr. Paul J. Appel

St. Alphonsus Liguori, The Redemptorists, & Our Mother of Perpetual Help

St. Alphonsus LiguoriAlphonsus Maria de Liguori was born in 1696 near Naples, Italy, the son of a captain in the Royal Navy and a very devoted mother from a noble family in the city. His parents provided him with an exceptional education in philosophy, literature, and the arts. He was 16 when he was awarded doctorates of civil and canon law. When he was 18, like many nobles, he joined the Confraternity of Our Lady of Mercy with whom he cared for the sick at the hospital for "incurables," washing afflicted bodies, feeding the helpless, changing bedclothes and devoting himself to works of mercy and compassion.

The RedemptoristsIn 1732, Alphonsus realized he could no longer be comfortable in his role of popular preacher living apart from the poor. So, leaving his family and his dearest friends, he set out to dedicate himself completely to the service of the poor and most abandoned. He sought others who were called as he was, and adopted a style of ministry to "mission among the people" — and so began the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, commonly known as the Redemptorists.

During a mission (a place like Davenport, Iowa), a band of Redemptorist priests and brothers would come to an area to preach and conduct religious activities. They saturated the people with the sense of God. They lived in community in houses in the countryside so that the mission revivals could be repeated regularly, which gave the poor the assurance they would not be abandoned by Alphonsus and his brothers.

Our Mother of Perpetual HelpSince 1866, the Redemptorists have spread devotion to Mary under the icon and title of Mother of Perpetual Help. According to tradition, the ancient Byzantine icon of Our Mother (or Our Lady) of Perpetual Help was stolen from a church in Crete where many miracles had occurred. The image remained in the private possession of a Roman merchant and his family until 1499 when it was publicly displayed in the Church of St. Matthew in Rome between the Basilicas of St. Mary Major and St. John Lateran.

When St. Matthew’s was destroyed in 1789, the icon was rescued and hung in an obscure monastery chapel until the Redemptorists learned that the site of their new headquarters in Rome had once been the site of St. Matthew’s, the one-time home of a miraculous icon of Our Lady. A Redemptorist priest who, as a young man, had frequented the monastery chapel that displayed the icon informed his brothers where to find the image.

The Redemptorists asked Pope Pius IX for permission to move the icon to their new church, San Alfonso, which was built on the location of the icon's earlier home. The pope granted his permission, and told the Redemptorists to “make her known throughout the world.”

St. Alphonsus Early Childhood Education Center

Did you know our school is still a busy place? As many of you know, regular classes ceased at St. Alphonsus School several years ago whena decision was made to consolidate into one building with Holy Familyand Sacred Heart. Several people I have talked to have assumed thatthere is little going on over at school nowadays. Nothing could befurther from the truth! The St. Alphonsus Early Childhood Center provides daycare and preschool for many children. We have specialized rooms for infants, toddlers, two and three-year olds, preschool, and school age! If you take a visit to the school on any day, even in the summer, you will hear the pitter-patter of little feet and see kids at desks, learningand working on activities.

We offer meals, transportation, and other enrichment opportunities. Shelly has been working hard to get the message out about the center, our new custodian, Perry, has been working hard to keep the building looking nice, and I have been planning for ways to introduce the families over there to our parish and the many things we can offer as a faith community beyond the services our school provides. Please pray for the continued success of our school!- Fr. Appel

The Franciscan Sisters of Christ the Divine Tea﻿cher

Did you know that across the street from St Alphonsus Church is a Franciscan Convent? Mother Susan and the other sisters can often be seen around the parish and in the community. Their charism is focused on the ministry of teaching and the community is growing! The sisters recently welcomed Sister Mary Seraphin into the novitiate as the newest member of their community.